“Lucy, what did you just say?”
“Did you not hear? Silly Papa?♡ Are you such a useless Papa that you can’t even do this?♡”
<Choke!>
Benedict, sounding as if he had taken a big hit, fell into silence for quite a while.
“Did you just call me silly Papa?♡”
<I’m listening, Lucy.>
Wondering if something had gone wrong with the crystal, I called out to Benedict, but his voice returned, sounding as if he would melt away at any moment.
Wait a second, Benedict, just a moment ago you were so stern with Lucy! And now, after hearing her call you 'Papa' once, you switch your attitude like this?
Is this really how it works?! No matter how much you adore your daughter, there must be limits!
<Um, Lucy. Why are you suddenly calling me Papa?>
“Why?♡ Because I want to call you silly Papa! Is that a problem?♡”
<No, no, no. That’s not it. Of course, it would make me very happy if our Lucy calls me Papa. I’m extremely delighted.>
Benedict’s voice was incredibly urgent. It seemed that the title "Papa" was something he could never give up.
Interesting. I thought this “Papa” title was a trap laid by the useless deity to make me say it.
Considering Benedict’s love for his daughter, I thought he would be happy, but it wouldn’t have much effect.
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But look at him now. In front of the title "Papa," he had become a fool of a father who could do nothing.
Oh Almighty! Did you look down from the heavens and give him such tips?!
Ah, you were watching what this humble little lamb couldn’t see!
Armen! I trust in the great deity’s powers!
While I praised the wise Armadi in my heart, Benedict stuttered as he continued to speak.
<But Lucy, you haven’t called me Papa since you were a child.>
Ah, so that’s why Benedict was so weak to the title "Papa." Lucy used to call him that when she was younger.
He must have been lost in memories, unable to know how to react. Benedict was indeed a fool of a father.
“Is that important right now, silly Papa?♡”
<Well... that’s true.>
“If you don’t let me go, I’ll never call you Papa again.”
<N-no...>
“I won’t even call you silly father. I’ll call you dumb troll instead.”
<Dumb troll?!... No. Still, Menesteil is too dangerous. Lucy, please.>
“Ugh. I totally hate silly Papa♡ You smell like an old man and it’s gross♡ Your voice is disgusting too♡ Even if you look like a troll, I’m not going back to the family♡”
<Lucy... Please listen to me.>
Benedict tried to persuade me in every way possible, but against the title "Papa," he was powerless.
Though he pretended to be strict, every time I used the title "Papa," he melted away, leaving him with no choice but to permit me to go to Menesteil.
Usually, the one who loves more ends up losing in such matters.
The only condition was that I would always keep a sword by my side.
Given my intent to always carry a sword to deal with the useless deity’s shenanigans, that was not a penalty at all.
Looking at Benedict, who had turned gloomy after allowing something he should never have permitted, I felt a little guilty.
I’m sorry, Benedict. But if I don’t do this, that useless deity will torment me.
This is also about resolving one of the enormous threats that will come to the continent someday, so please understand.
You don’t have to worry. As a veteran of Soul Academy, there’s no way I would mess up in a dungeon, right?
I’ll return soon with a gift for you after solving everything.
Days passed since that night, and the day of the break began.
While the students of the academy headed to their respective destinations, my feet took me to an alley on Soul Academy Street.
“Welcome, Lady Alrn.”
“Alsetin, is everything ready?”
“Information dealer. You didn’t prepare anything less than what I ordered, right?”
“Of course. Here, check it out.”
As confidently claimed, Alsetin had perfectly prepared the items I requested.
Good. With this, I could handle any variables that might arise while raiding the Menesteil Dungeon.
‘Thanks for your hard work.’
“Considering it’s from an alleyway, you’ve put in some effort.”
“It’s related to my master, so I must do my best.”
Alsetin replied with a deliberately solemn face.
I had already told Alsetin that I would pay him in advance before this day arrived.
Since I had to go to raid the Menesteil Dungeon anyway, I planned to resolve Alsetin’s issues while I was at it.
Alsetin was happy about my words but also hesitated. It seemed he was troubled by not having yet earned the value of the information I gave him.
So I just said I would pay him in advance.
‘Thank you so much! Lady Alrn! I will definitely repay this kindness!’
Alsetin was overjoyed to realize he could resolve his long-standing issues.
I hoped that his feelings wouldn’t change even after everything was resolved.
Confirming that all preparations were complete, I stood before the teleportation circle with Alsetin and my sword.
Hah. I never thought I would have to use this again.
I had promised myself never to use this magic again after using it when I visited the Newman family, but this time, there was no choice.
Menesteil was too far to travel by road. It would take nearly a month just to go back and forth, and I couldn’t waste that much time.
Even if it was a bit painful, using this circle was the best option right now. I just had to endure it.
Determined, I stepped into the brightly glowing teleportation circle and soon regretted it.
“Ugh.”
The dizziness hit me like a compressed motion sickness that one would feel after riding in a carriage for a month, leaving me unable to control my body.
Ugh. I thought I had grown a lot compared to before, but I still end up like this.
When will I be able to have a calm face like my sword?
“Need help?”
The silly fox that had followed me asked as it came to my side to calm me down.
Help? Can it solve this motion sickness?
With no energy to speak, I merely nodded, and the silly fox tapped my forehead with its paw.
It felt nice and soft, but would this really help?
Oh? The dizziness has disappeared.
What is this?!
Even if it's a silly pervert fox, the lord of the forest is still the lord?!
“Tsk. Using power is tiring. Let me borrow your head for a moment.”
The silly fox that solved my motion sickness climbed onto my head and made itself comfortable, but I didn’t stop it.
Thanks to it, I was feeling better. I should at least offer it a resting place.
Refreshed by the silly fox, I stepped outside the building and took in the sights of Menesteil.
It was definitely a city belonging to the Mage Empire, as there were many differences compared to the kingdom.
For example, most of the buildings in Menesteil were shorter than those in the kingdom.
With the territory being vast, there was no need to build tall structures. If there’s plenty of land, why save it?
And if you take your eyes off the buildings, you can see various magical items imbued with magic.
As the name of the Mage Empire suggests, this country possesses a higher level of magical technology than other nations.
As such, the common folk below can enjoy the blessings of technology more comfortably than anywhere else.
There are several other minor differences, but these were the most noticeable.
Seeing the scenery that I had only seen in a game lifted my spirits a bit, but it was nothing compared to when I looked at the streets of Soul Academy.
And I can’t help it, as this place is just an offshoot from the perspective of someone who played Soul Academy.
No matter how grand and large it is, it doesn’t elicit much interest from me.
The sunset is beautiful, but that’s about it.
“It’s already this time, huh? I think it would be best to find a place to stay first.”
Karl made a sensible suggestion as he looked at the darkening sky.
Usually, his words would be right. Wherever you go, finding a place to stay should come first.
However, in my case, it was an exception. I had a bit of trust in something.
‘No, rather than that...’
“Hey, you silly girl. I decide the schedule. For now, we’re heading to the Adventurer's Guild.”
While the Menesteil Dungeon is open to everyone, you can’t just rush inside.
If people could enter and exit freely, taxes wouldn’t be collected, would they?
Thus, anyone wishing to enter the Menesteil Dungeon must stop by the Adventurer's Guild to get a certificate.
If you’re a noble of the Mage Empire, you can be exempted from that, but unfortunately, I’m a noble of the kingdom. I might be able to get convenience during the certificate issuance process, but that’s about it.
“However, Lady. If you can’t find a place to stay...”
‘It’s fine.’
“Hey. Silly girl, are you arguing with your master? How rude!”
“Sir, the lady has her own plans, so please don’t worry.”
Unlike Karl, Alsetin seemed to have a clue and defended me.
Seeing that Alsetin grasped my intentions faster than my own knight made Karl glare at him out of jealousy. He soon changed his expression, saying he knew but just mentioned it for courtesy's sake, acting shameless.
Puhaha. What’s this? You can’t lose in loyalty? That’s really funny.
Even if you make one or two mistakes like this, it doesn’t change the fact that you are my knight, silly Karl.
Anyway, you’re not thinking of opposing any longer, right? Then let’s go to the Adventurer's Guild.
The guild’s processing of business here is slow, so if we want to enter the dungeon right away tomorrow, we need to apply for the certificate a day in advance.
Even though it was my first time seeing the street, my steps were unwavering.
There is no place in this world where I don’t know the way.
If I want to build the shortest path in a speedrun, I have to do this much.
Thanks to that, I was able to arrive at the Adventurer's Guild without much difficulty.
The guild was bustling, perhaps because it was sunset.
People were trying their best to get a little more pay.
Some were begging for just one more day on their requests.
Others were drinking and having heart-to-heart talks with their party members.
Some were organizing their equipment.
Some were trying to negotiate with the guild staff for a better price for their spoils.
Everyone was wrapping up a day spent conquering the dungeon.
However, the daily life of all those people came to a brief halt the moment I opened the door and stepped inside.
All eyes were on me.
<Tsk. Is it because they’re uneducated? Their glances are really off-putting.>
‘...What? What does that mean?’
Having gotten used to the gazes of others during my time at the academy, I remained indifferent even among their stares.
But the others were different.
An old man openly showed that he didn’t like me,
Karl furrowed his brows and stepped forward to shield me from the gazes,
and Alsetin glared at everyone from behind, issuing warnings.
I don’t know well, but seeing them react so sensitively, it seems that this isn’t a good gaze again.
It’s probably curiosity of the bad kind.
Perverted bastards. Do they get some twisted desire seeing a girl who’s barely on their chest?
It seems my charm stat is indeed high. The moment I revealed myself in the guild, I caught everyone’s attention.
But you know, with my charm stat being validated, another fact was also proven.
How trashy must my reputation be?!
Just how low has my reputation stat fallen that this high charm stat does nothing in the academy?! Damn it!
“Bunch of perverts.”
As I lamented in despair over the reality before me, the silly fox perched on my head piped up.
It’s not wrong. It’s true, but...
Silly fox, you’re the last one who should be saying anything as a pathetic pervert who rejoiced at being stepped on by me, right?
Don’t you have any shame? Huh?!